Electric furnace.



No. 687,505. Patented Nov. 26, l90l.

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ELECTRIC FURNACE.

(Applicltion filed Feb. 19, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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, a m P No. 687,505. Patented Nov. 26, l90l. M. RUTHENBURG.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

(Application filed Feb. 19, 1901.)

(No MOGCI.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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MARCUS RUTHENBURG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,505, dated November 26, 1901.

Application filed February 19, 1901. Serial No. 47,922. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARCUS RUTHENBURG, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Furnacespvhereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

It is the object of my invention to provide an electric furnace particularly adapted for the agglomeration of com minuted ores or concentrates and so arranged as to insure the positive discharge of the agglomerated product from the furnace with a minimum expenditure of energy.

My invention consists of a furnace comprising relativelynnovable electrodes or terminals of a heating-circuit and means to effect the relative movement of said terminals during the operation of the furnace and thereby secure the progression of the raw material in the furnace and the automatic discharge of the product therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a furnace conveniently embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 2 2 in Fig 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said furnace opposite to Fig. 1.

In said figures, A B are opposed terminals of the heating-circuit, which comprises the conductors A B. The terminal A is conveniently hopper-shaped to receive the raw material X and convey the same to the gap between the terminals. The terminal B is a cylindrical roller fixed upon the shaft B", journaled in bearings O O, which bearings are mounted upon the hopper Aand insulated thereform conveniently by bushings, as indicated at c in Fig. 2. Both of said terminals A B may be conveniently formed of cast-iron.

The contact-collar 1) upon the shaft B is in electrical connection with the terminal B through said shaft and in electrical connection with the conductor B by the contactbrush 1). The extremity of the shaft B opposite to the collar 1) is provided with the worm gear B in engagement with the worm ("Z upon the shaft (1 of the motor D, which motor may be electricallyactuated through conductors E E.

In view of the fact that the lower extremity of the hopper A is subjected to high temperature and tends to become more or less eroded during the operation of the furnace, I prefer to provide it with jacket-spaces a, having convenient inlets and outlets a a for water or other cooling media.

In order to facilitate the manipulation of the product of the furnace by afiording unobstructed space below the terminals, I prefer to suspend the furnace upon links F F, which are socketed in the hopper A, but insulated therefrom by bushings f.

The heating-circuit A B being energized and the material X being directed by the hopper-terminal A upon the roller-terminal B, the particles of said material bridging the gap between the terminals form a path for the current and are heated until fritted in coherent lumps, and said agglomerated prod uct is discharged by rotation of the terminal B. It is to be understood that with a given raw material the nature of the product of my improved furnace may be varied by changing the speed of rotation of the roller B. For instance, magnetite per se may be introduced to the hopper A and discharged therefrom by the rotation of the roller B at such speed that the product consists of agglomerated lumps of unreduced magnetite fitted for introduction to an ordinary reducing-furnace, orsuch iron oxid may be introduced to the hopper A, together with a reducing agent-such as charcoal, coke, or the like-preferably accompanied by a fiuxing material, and the roller B rotated at such slower speed that the product consists of fused drops of reduced iron fitted for immediate introduction to an openhearth furnace or to a soaking-pit.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction which I have shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without do parting from the essential features of my invention.

I claim 1. In an electric furnace, the combination with a hopper and a roller constituting the respective terminals of a heating-circuit; of bearings insulated from said hopper, and arranged to support said roller opposite to the mouth of said hopper; and means to rotate said roller, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric furnace, the combination with a hopper and a roller, constituting the respective terminals of the heating-circuit; of bearings fixed upon said hopper arranged to support said roller opposite to and insulated from the mouth of said hopper; and means to rotate said roller, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric furnace, the combination with a hopper; of bearings fixed upon said hopper; a shaft mounted for rotation in said bearings; a roller fixed upon said shaft opposed to the mouth of said hopper and insulated therefrom; a commutator-collar on said shaft; a brush in contact with said collar; and means arranged to connect said brush and the mouth of said hopper with the opposite extremities of the heating-circuit, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric furnace, the combination with a hopper constituting one terminal of a heating-circuit; of a roller constituting the other terminal of said heating-circuit; bearings supporting said roller in opposition to the mouth of said hopper; and a motor arranged to rotate said roller, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric furnace, the combination with a hopper constituting one terminal of a heating-circuit; of a roller constituting the other terminal of said heating-circuit; means supporting said roller in opposition to the mouth of said hopper; and an electric motor secured in fixed relation to said hopper and arranged to rotate said roller, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 16th day of February, 1001.

MARCUS RUTHENBURG.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, E. L. FULLERTON. 

